Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa
UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa: Population of compulsory school age, both sexes was 118.72 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa, 1997–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa recorded 118.72 million for population of compulsory school age, both sexes in 2024. That is the highest value across all 28 years on record.
The figure is up 0.7% on the previous year and up 26.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population of compulsory school age, both sexes in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa peaked at 118.72 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 50.19 million, in 1997.
That places UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa 108th out of 221 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 28 years of available data.
Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 50.19 million | — |
| 1998 | 50.19 million | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 51.31 million | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 52.53 million | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 53.58 million | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 54.61 million | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 55.75 million | +2.1% |
| 2004 | 56.97 million | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 63.47 million | +11.4% |
| 2006 | 64.74 million | +2.0% |
| 2007 | 67.16 million | +3.7% |
| 2008 | 75.06 million | +11.8% |
| 2009 | 76.84 million | +2.4% |
| 2010 | 81.53 million | +6.1% |
| 2011 | 83.49 million | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 85.51 million | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 91.97 million | +7.6% |
| 2014 | 94.04 million | +2.2% |
| 2015 | 96.28 million | +2.4% |
| 2016 | 101.47 million | +5.4% |
| 2017 | 103.68 million | +2.2% |
| 2018 | 105.78 million | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 107.69 million | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 109.41 million | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 114.70 million | +4.8% |
| 2022 | 116.30 million | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 117.88 million | +1.4% |
| 2024 | 118.72 million | +0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 50.56 million | 50.19 million | 51.31 million | 3 |
| 2000s | 62.07 million | 52.53 million | 76.84 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 95.14 million | 81.53 million | 107.69 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 115.40 million | 109.41 million | 118.72 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa
More education data for UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 49.26 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 1.01 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2.50 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 2.77 % change on previous year (2022)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 36.30 million (2022)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.22 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 50.69 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.32 % change on previous year (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 8.67 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 9.20 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population of compulsory school age, both sexes in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa?
- Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa was 118.72 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population of compulsory school age, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 118.72 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest population of compulsory school age, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 50.19 million in 1997.
- How does UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa rank for population of compulsory school age, both sexes?
- UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa ranks 108th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is population of compulsory school age, both sexes rising or falling in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population of compulsory school age, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release